HAS BINN Spring 2017 Edition THANK YOU SENIORS!

The Villanova University Band Presents... THE HAS BINN Spring 2017 Edition THANK YOU SENIORS!

A Farewell to the Class of 2017 and the 2016-17 Band Season

POETRY CORNER - Where in the world is Binncat? - General Band Shenanigans

Senior Features - Senior Reflections STAY TUNED FOR A SPECIAL EDITION ON APRIL 30!

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A Letter From Your Editors

Dear VU Band,

Hello from your new Editors! We thought we’d take a moment before this VERY LONG EDITION of the Has Binn to introduce ourselves, briefly.

I’m Marianne Donley, a junior in the best section in the band: the saxophones. I’m their section leader/dictator, a pep band director, and a Publicity Committee Chairperson. I clearly enjoy having no free time because I’m double majoring in English and Chemistry. I’m from Pittsburgh, Aka “the better side of PA.” Let’s Go Pens, amirite?

Nice to meet you, Marianne! I’m Mike Bigley, a sophomore in the better best section of the band, the trumpets. I’m a Math and Econ major with a minor in Stats so in case you haven’t realized by now, I am a total nerd. And like many Villanovans, I hail from the great state of New Jersey.

Great to meet you both! I’m Elizabeth Hagopian, a sophomore in the greatest section of all, the clarinets! In my spare time from the Has Binn, I’m a Nursing major from the best state of Fall Tour New England: Massachusetts. But enough about all of us...

In this edition of the Has Binn you will find many of the band’s literary attempts...I mean achievements. The Has Binn has morphed in recent years into as much of a literary … magazine as a newsletter. We’ve got an extensive “Poetry Corner” as well as several narrative accounts of a certain missing cat...but more on that later. OUR SENIORS ARE GRADUATING! THE YEAR IS ENDING! We’re recapping the past season and all our seniors have done for us in the final section of the HB.

We hope you’ll enjoy our first edition! Thanks to Yena Lee and Jimmy Saile, our graduating editors and incredible predecessors, for setting the Has Binn bar ridiculously high. We will do our best to live up to the legacy of your overachieving.

If you’d like to submit an article or have any suggestions for us, feel free to shoot us an email.

Sincerely, Marianne Donley ([email protected]), Mike Bigley ([email protected]) , and Elizabeth Hagopian ([email protected]) P.S. WE KNOW ALDO’S RETIRING! Stay tuned for our second edition of the Has Binn out in just a few days! …

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P O E T C O R N E R Y

Ode to the Drum Rest By Olivia “I’m not from the South” Sigmund Sophomore Percussion

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Poetry Corner Cont.

Shampoo Pizza By Zbynek “Future Band President” Gold Freshman Trombone

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Binncat’s Log Submitted by an anonymous “this is totally Chris Bowers btw” source (Anonymous freshman clarinet)

Binncat’s Log 23:13 December 10, 2016

This is it. They’ve taken far too long to find him. It falls to me to begin my quest in search of him. Scott Jr. This Binnmas night of joy and celebration has only served to remind me of his suffering. I can still remember the day that Scott Jr. went off to the war. So proud to serve, so eager to impress his dad. But since then there has been zero contact from his unit. Rumor is that they were all captured by the Duke. Poor Scott Jr. doesn’t even know that his dad passed on to the big highway in the sky. But don’t worry young Scotty. I’m coming for you, and when I get my claws on that Duke I’ll make that bastard pay for the horrors he’s put you through. Stay strong my brother.

Binncat’s Log 05:15 December 11, 2016

My search begins. My contacts at GMU have informed me that Scott Jr. was placed into a covert ops unit specializing in badger removal. They say that his unit had a big mission coming up in

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the next few months, but communications were lost before they could embark upon it. My contacts also told me that his unit was training at 401 7th Ave, New York, NY 10001. I guess this is my first destination. We’re going back to the top of the world.

Binncat’s Log 07:12 January 13, 2017

My journey to New York has finally completed. It’s been almost a month since my last log entry. The road has been hard on me. My supplies are running low. I’m down to my last Natty. I can only hope that I can replenish my supplies at Scott Jr.’s training facility. I’m sure they had him staying in the nicest place possible. God knows the kid deserves it… I’m nearing my destination now. Everything seems so foreign here. I wonder what kind of beer they have…

Binncat’s Log 10:36 January 13, 2017

What is this hellhole. I arrived at Scott Jr.’s training facility, and all I can do is hope that there is a God. It feels as though there should be Glenn Miller music drifting through the hallways, but as I enter the front lobby a man dressed as a comic book character strikes a pose and seems to expect me to play along. Thanks, but no thanks buddy. I prefer to live in reality, not some twisted fantasy in which you have a chance of being relevant. I approach the desk and ask if they knew anything about Scott Jr. They mention that there has been some training on the roof so I guess that’s as good of a place as any to start. I hope it’s as easy as they make it sound to get up there.

Binncat’s Log 11:03 January 13, 2017

I have arrived on the roof. The whole city stretches out before me. If I wasn’t on a mission I may have stayed to enjoy the view. Alas though, I had to continue my search. Scott Jr. was not to be found here. There was only a man with a bow in his hair. I asked him what he knew. He told me that Scott Jr.’s unit had

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been deployed to Buffalo to await further orders. I thanked him and bid farewell to the bow man on the roof. I’m off to Buffalo.

Binncat’s Log 12:46 January 23, 2017

Buffalo. What a terrible place. It reeks worse than the Binn after the Chug. At least they have good wings. That’s beside the point though. I need to find Scott Jr. If I know that truck though, he’ll be sightseeing. I heard Pinchock took the band to Niagara Falls once when they came here. That seems like as good of a place to start as any. Better get moving.

Binncat’s Log 16:32 January 23, 2017

Ah the Falls. All this water flowing reminds me of how the keg flows in the Binn. I do miss my home… But I have my mission. I must find Scott Jr. Looking around I don’t see a covert ops truck anywhere. Wait. What is that?! No… It can’t be… WAIT WAIT!

NOOOOOOOOooooooooooo…

END TRANSMISSION

These are the last transmissions from the log of Agent T.H. Cat, AKA “Binncat”. Upon further investigation by the agency a recording from a CCTV camera was recovered showing Public Enemy #1 alias: “The Duke” tripping Agent T.H. Cat and sending our agent tumbling over the falls. We have sent a team of divers to attempt to recover the body of our agent, but after three days of searching they have found no remains. At this time Agent T.H. Cat is presumed dead, but several of our sources report sightings of a familiar feline form drinking Natty’s in North Carolina on the front porch of the Murdter Estate. If this is indeed our agent we can only wonder why he has not returned to the agency. Maybe he finally found Scott Jr. and they are training for another mission? We cannot be sure though. Further observation is required.

-T.H.

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Finding Baby By Taylor “Orgo’s Bitch” Heuermann Sophomore Clarinet

Spooky Baby awoke with a start from his fitful, dreamless sleep to the sounds of a violent fight right outside his door. Spooky couldn’t make out any intelligible words, but the battle sounded vicious. The small, unfurnished room he had been trapped in for days had nowhere for him to hide, so Baby pressed himself into a corner of the room and tried to make himself as unnoticeable as possible. He had no idea what was going on, but it certainly couldn’t mean anything good for him. When the sounds of the battle quieted down, Baby trembled, unsure of what to expect but filled with a sense of foreboding. The lock on his door slowly turned, and with a faint click, the door creaked slowly open. Spooky Baby was on the verge of soiling himself when he heard a familiar voice whisper his name. “Spooky?” “BINN CAT!” Spooky Baby tumbled awkwardly over to his dearest friend, Binn cat, who looked him up and down for any sign of injury. “Spooky, I’m so glad we found you!” said Binn Cat, picking Spooky Baby up and carrying him away from his prison on his back. We? Before Spooky could ask any questions, Binn Cat was in full tirade. “I can’t believe those damn Pirates could have the audacity to steal my very best friend from me, and only days before the most sacred of holidays, Binnmas! Did they hurt you? Have they been feeding you? Do you need to go to a hospital?” Spooky Baby insisted he was fine, and asked only that they hurry away from the Pirates’ lair. Once they had reached a safe place, high in the tops of a tree far from the den of heathens, Spooky Baby finally relaxed. He had been terrified for days that no one would ever find him and was in constant fear that the Pirates would get tired of him and do him in. “Binn Cat, I’m so glad that you found me. But… How?” “It’s a long story – I’m just glad that you’re safe.”

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“Please, tell me everything. Those foul beasts had me locked in that tiny room for days. I need to know how you managed to find me.” “Okay… Well, get comfortable. Things got pretty, well… weird. I swear, the whole ordeal felt really familiar… Like I had done it before or seen it in a movie. Déjà vu as shit, let me tell you. Anyway, it happened like this.” “So when I first realized you were missing, I didn’t think much of it. I know you like adventures and I figured you would be home soon enough. I thought it was pretty weird that you weren’t around for Binnmas, but I still wasn’t worried. That is, until I opened my stocking from our precious Binn Guys. Hidden beneath all of my wonderful goodies I found a small piece of crumpled paper. Thinking perhaps it was a George dollar, I pulled it out and carefully flattened it. To my dismay, it was not a George dollar, but a ransom note! It said –

Arr, ye foul beast – We have taken yer precious wee Spookie Babe hostage. If ye want to see ‘im alive ever again, bring us all yer cash doller. Aaarrrrrrrrrr

“I looked all over the note, and even dug around my stocking for another note, but the damned fools didn’t say who they were or where I could find them to bring your ransom! With no clues, I knew I had to strike out on my own and keep looking. So, when our precious Binn Guys were fast asleep with sweet Binnmas dreams playing in their heads, I slipped away into the night to find you. I didn’t know how I would do it or where to begin, but I knew I had to try. I started out by sniffing around the Acme parking lot. I knew a lot of traffic between the Binn and the rest of the world passed through that crumbling asphalt wasteland day in and day out. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but I thought if there was going to be anything worth finding it would be there. While I was sniffing around, I was so absorbed in tracking that I ran headlong into something soft and fat. As it turns out, I ran into this bird that looked like it had a few screws loose. Or rather, looked like all of its screws had fallen out and nothing left. This weird bird was just standing there, staring at me with dead, lifeless shark eyes, just… flopping its head. I didn’t want any trouble, so I tried to walk away to keep looking for clues. But the damned bird just flopped along after me. I tried to shake him, but try as I might he just kept on showing up. He’s been tagging along ever since, right FP?” Spooky Baby followed Binn Cat’s gaze and yelped when he saw a purple pigeon sitting behind him. He had been so absorbed in Binn Cat’s story that he hadn’t noticed the bird at all. Even so, the pigeon was very much there, just standing behind him and flopping his head with a blank expression. “Yeah, he doesn’t talk much,” Binn Cat explained, “But he’s nice to have around. Kinda cute when you get past the horrifying stare. Anyway, back to the story- “So me and FP started scouring the surrounding neighborhood for clues. We didn’t find anything in the Acme lot, so we broadened our search. While we were trotting along Lancaster,

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this huge motorcycle blazed past us. While we were still choking on fumes, it came back and pulled over next to us. This huge, beefy, tats-all-over kinda guy stepped off the motorcycle and walked our way. Now, let me tell you, this guy was massive. I tried to say something about the weather and forgetting an umbrella and that we really needed to leave, but this dude just picked us right up like we were nothing and insisted that we looked just like the kind of fellows he’s like to introduce to his friends. So we get to his friends, right, and these guys look pretty shifty too. Anyway, the three of them explained that they just wanted help in a pool hustle. We looked like perfect greenies teamed up with the smallest guy in their pool shark gang, and what could we do but agree to help them pull off a hustle when the guys all had arms like gorillas? Well, fast forward a few hours and we had helped the pool sharks pull off such a beautiful hustle that it had incited a huge riot in the pool hall. So we dodged the hell out of there before we could get crushed in the mayhem. After all, we still had no idea where you were and we were losing precious time. So we got back to looking around. We weren’t sniffing for long though before we spotted a George dollar on the sidewalk! Not some shifty ransom note either, but a real genuine George dollar! FP here got real excited and hopped over to pick it up. Just as he reached out for it though, it swooped away from him. Confused, the poor guy hopped after it and tried to get it again. But it kept on rolling further and further away! I was pretty confused too, but by the time I figured out what was happening it was too late for me to warn FP.

As it turns out, the George dollar was attached to a fine piece of fishing line and someone had been dragging it along to lure in an unsuspecting victim. Poor FP doesn’t have the brain capacity to see through a trap like that, so he was all too easy prey. A huge, feral tomcat leapt from the bush he was hiding in to pin down FP. With a triumphant yowl, he bared his yellow fangs and prepared to rip the pigeon’s head right off! Before I could even react, a thundering pack of dogs came running out from behind a nearby building. Terrified, the cat made a break for it, releasing FP in his flight. A few dogs went chasing after it, but the majority circled around FP. I was horrified, thinking that FP had just escaped the frying pan only to fall straight into the fire. Just as I was preparing to pounce to FP’s rescue, the biggest dog in the pack gently helped FP up and asked him why he was out so late in this part of town. FP started making these weird, hacking chirping noises. I have no idea what the guy said, but the dogs seemed to understand what he was saying. I dunno, dogs are weird.

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I tried to explain to the dogs that we were looking for you, but they didn’t want to hear anything from me. I guess they have a thing against cats. Anyway, I guess FP explained to them somehow our situation, because they knew immediately who had stolen you away. ‘Ooooh that note? Definitely the handiwork of the Seton Hall pirates. Oh yeah, they definitely have an inferiority complex and they have definitely stooped to kidnappery like this in the past.’ ‘But how do we get to Seton Hall from here?’ I asked. The dogs just glared at me, and explained the route to FP. I caught most of it, but all th I really heard clearly was that we needed to take the Paoli line to 30 street and take an Amtrak train from there into Jersey. The vigilante pack of strays set us on course for the nearest train station, and before long we were riding the rails into Philly. Just as we were closing in on our destination, a fight broke out between some beefy guys in our car. There were a lot of people packed around us, and no one wanted to get caught up in the fray so everyone started scrambling to get out of the way. In the midst of the chaos, FP got knocked out of his seat and banged his head real good on the floor. He crumpled like a sack of bricks. I tried to help him, but the last thing I remember as I was on my way to save him from being trampled is a sharp pain in my tail and then nothing. I guess I got smacked in the head too or something because the next thing I remember is waking up in the arms of some weird kid wearing the ugliest Christmas sweater I have ever seen. Let me tell you, this kid smelled like straight weed – the stench hit me like a train. The kid explained that he had seen me and FP in our peril and he rescued us from the floor before we could get trampled to death. He asked us what we were doing on the train in the first place, so I explained our journey to find you. When I told him I wasn’t sure which train we had to take next, his little buddy chimed in. This kid – wow. I couldn’t understand a word of what he was saying. He had a high, raspy voice like an electric saw, and his words were slurring together so much I wasn’t sure he was even speaking English. FP seemed to get the gist though, so I went with it. Next thing I knew, the little dude was helping us onto the next Amtrak train bound for Jersey. This is where FP really started thinking on his feet. Or you know, whatever it is the guy does in place of thinking. But I digress. We knew that when we got off the train, we were going to have to take a bus, but all of the steps in between were confusing and boy I really just couldn’t understand the directions that kid gave us. FP happened to spot a kid on his way to Seton Hall across the train car though, so real smooth and ninja like we snuck our way into his bags. One thing led to another and we found our way to the grounds of Seton Hall. We knew we were in the right place, but we had no idea where to start looking. That’s when we ran into this gangly kid in a huge hoodie. We asked him where we might find the Seton Hall Pirates. He was confused at first, but he figured it was probably the guys who all split the

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job of wearing the mascot uniform. He explained that they were pretty cultish in their ways and took their job way too seriously. So, he shoved us in his giant hoodie pocket and walked us over to their hangout. Once he dropped us off, we sprang into action. Eyes blazing, fur and feathers flying, teeth, claws, and talons bared, we barged into their den and attacked! They had no idea what hit them. Now, I attribute our battle success to watching the beautiful kids in the drumline spar during the band’s rendition of Pirates of the Caribbean. I might have even sang some of it out loud while I kicked ass. And the rest, well, you know! We pulled you outta there and now we can get back to the Binn!” Spooky Baby sighed in relief, glad that his dearest friend had managed to find him in spite of all the hardships he had faced. “Alright, so when do we leave, and how do we get back?” Binn Cat raised a paw confidently to explain his plan, but then twitched his whiskers in confusion. “You know… I’m not really sure how we’re going to get back… but… Where in the world did FP go???”

THE END (for now c;)

LOST CAT Answers to “Binncat,” “T.H. Cat,” “@binncat,” or “Gross, I’m not kissing that thing!”

Last seen: Binnmas at the Binn (or being super active on Twitter) REWARD: 500 George Dollars to whoever safely returns him to T.H. BINN

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General Band Shenanigans

HOW ABOUT THOSE LADY CATS? By Marianne “Nothing Betta Than Peretta” Donley, Junior Alto Saxophone

The Nova Women’s Basketball Team WENT for it this year. Unlike the men’s team, who usually makes it to the NCAA tournament before exiting in dramatic fashion or winning a National Championship, the women’s team hasn’t made the Big Dance in a few years. They did put on a heck of a show during the end of this season, though, by making it to the semifinals of the Women’s NIT, lengthening postseason play for the Nova Nation as they defeated Princeton, Drexel, JMU, and Indiana. Unfortunately, because the NIT doesn’t have ridiculous sums of money to throw at athletic departments so they can take their bands, none of us were present, and nobody read Dr. Seuss at the opposing teams as they took foul shots. But I think the final two games of the regular season might have been the best WBB games I’ve seen played and some of my favorite as a member of the band.

I think it’s safe to say that the pep band is not used to overtime.

Heck, the Pavilion isn’t used to overtime these days. So when the penultimate home game of the season against Xavier ended with a tie after regulation, I was thrilled. The crew from Athletics, probably somewhat shocked they would have to find more ads to fill the time instead of more time for the ads to fill, let us play during a timeout. As the score stayed neck-and-neck, the crowd of mostly older alumni and families began to do something I don’t often see non-band alumni do during close games: they started to cheer. A few Nova Nation chants later, when the first overtime ended and the score was STILL TIED, I could have died happy right then—except for the fact that there was still a basketball game going on and Athletics, either more frazzled now or completely out of ads, let us play again. “War” rang out through the Pavilion as the young children in the stands freaked the heck out, hyped up on adrenaline and probably too many concession stand soft drinks.

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The Lady ‘Cats went on to win the game and we went home to “do our homework” and mentally prepare for our second game of the weekend—the women’s game against Butler on Sunday. Butler would also be my last game as a pep director in the current Pavilion—I’m a junior, but with the men’s team in Wells Fargo and the women playing in Jake Nevin, the atmosphere is going to be very different at home games next season. Will John Jacob Jingleheimerschmidt sound the same if it doesn’t echo off of the swooping ceiling of the Pavilion? Will Rain Chant still turn the student section into a sea flailing arms when the student section is split up on both endlines? Will the pep band directors still have to stand on an old wooden box and try not to trip on the drum rug?

These questions will likely all be answered next season, but I think St. Augustine must have heard me asking for more time with the ancestral home of the Wildcats (you know, since the 80s) because the women’s team took it into yet another overtime. Athletics, now tested veterans of WBB overtime, didn’t really let us play much, but the women outlasted Butler to win the game, and “V for Villanova” sounded just a little bit sweeter after that extra few minutes of Villanova Basketball. I wish we could have been there to play it during Women’s Big East or NIT, but I’ll be happy to Jam the Jake next year for the Lady ‘Cats. I hope you’ll all be there to join us in a rousing reading of “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.”

I think the other teams are going to love it.

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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Binn By Elizabeth “all I remember from anatomy is the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell “ Hagopian, Sophomore Clarinet

We all know that one of the cardinal rules of the Binn is that you get dropped off at Acme or Wendy’s. And while most uber drivers turn a blind eye to why you need to go to Acme at 10:30 pm on a Saturday night, some get curious. One of these curious cats just happened to drive a group including yours truly and our beloved VP of Fundraising, Juliette Foley. The conversation that ensued once we climbed in was too good to not document…

UD: Hello, you’re going to Acme?

JF: Hi, yes Acme please.

UD: Why are you going to Acme, Giant is way cheaper?

JF: I have to get the expensive stuff like the other Villanova kids. It’s how I keep up with my classmates.

UD: Hmmm...you know there’s a bar right across the street from Acme, right?

JF: Oh no, I didn’t know that cause I’m underage...I would never drink underage.

UD: Mhmmm...there are plenty of under 21 places in Philly to go to, like the Music Factory.

JF: Oh yeah, I’ve been there before to see a concert!

And with that we had arrived at our destination. Thank you’s and goodbye’s were exchanged, and with one last suspicious look, the uber drove away. And we all laughed in amazement at Juliette’s brilliant performance as we continued on to our beloved Binn!

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Best Flipbook Songs to Poop To By Juliette “aka Emerald if you work at Giant” Foley, Sophomore Clarinet

Due to my 1.5 years of working for Villanova Recreation (a fancy way of saying the gym), I’ve pooped to all the greatest hits of 2016-2017. My favorite, you ask? “Don’t Wanna Know”

1. “V For Villanova”- Who wouldn’t want to get their bowel movements onto this wonderful classic? Pinchock points for showing school spirit (#gocats)

2. “Sorry”- Is it too late to say sorry? Yes, yes it is.

3. “Carry on Wayward Son”- There’ll be peace when you are done…

4. “The Horse”- For those more experienced, this song gives a nice countdown for your blast off

5. “Rather Be”- There’s no place I’d rather be.

6. “Runaway Baby”- Sometimes there’s no holding it in

7. “Confident”- What’s wrong with being confident?

8. “Die Young”- Livin’ hard just like we should, don’t care whose watching when we tearing it up (you know)

9. “The Stripper”- For the more experienced pooper who wants to spice things up ͹

10. “Take on Me”- This song took a couple recordings to become the hit that we know and love today. What an inspiration to us all. Sometimes you need a few tries to succeed in poop related activities… Don’t worry, you’ll get there

For those who aren’t sure, this emoji is exactly what you think it is.

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@vubandsaxes By Ryan “Made it to the Roof” Bowman Sophomore Alto Saxophone

The sun rose on the morning of th March 11 just as it has for all of the history of time, but there was a sense around the world that something was different. Some days are so monumental for the development of the human race that they are remembered for centuries, and even millennia. As the world woke up on this The game itself was surprisingly not beautiful Saturday morning, there was a the monumental event that will go down in sense that today was one of those days. history as changing the development of the Something monumental was going to happen human race. A relatively unexciting victory today. gave the Villanova Wildcats their second Big East Championship in three years, and cemented the senior class as one the best in history. However, we must turn our attention across the street from the Madison The Villanova Band woke up to the Square Garden, to the infamous Hotel various sounds of the Hotel Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania. This hotel is quite arguably someone screaming down the hall, the odd the eighth wonder of the world. Countless sounds the “air conditioning” unit makes, or memories have been made at this hotel, and even someone throwing a couch out the this year was no exception. window. The past two days saw Villanova’s basketball team absolutely dismantle Saint John’s Red More-of-a-slight-gust-of-wind, and a narrow victory against Jack Sparrow’s gang of delinquents at Seton Hall. Today was the Big East Championship against the Creighton Bluejays, a team we had already beaten twice and caused Greg McDermott’s face on the verge of implosion approximately six times.

It all started in room 1214 (I think? Honestly who knows with this hotel). Some of the finest band folks were gathered in the room: our fearless leader Toasty McToastface, the MVM (Most Valuable Mom) Marianne, Alec “I guess tenors are

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saxophones” Garino, John “YOOOO” Clyne, We decided on the username of and myself, The Roof . JClyne and I were @vubandsaxes which was not taken, as if a ™ talking, when we came up with the most sign from St. Larkin himself that this was brilliant idea since the invention of fire: destined for greatness. We set our profile what if the saxophones had their own twitter picture of the saxophone’s mascot, Matt account? It is common knowledge that the Nelson wearing the boot, and we were ready saxophones are the best section in any given for action. I would try to describe our tweets band, the Villanova Band was no exception. but honestly I can’t do them justice, you just “Mom can the saxophones make a twitter need to see the account. account?” I asked Marianne who was avidly Also, since like four people use the arguing about how gluten is one of the most account there’s a lot of infighting so that’s overrated aspects in cuisine. fun! Play our favorite game, Guess Whose “Holy h*ck (swear omitted for PG Tweet That Is! rating) yes we can,” she said, suddenly forgetting about gluten. Everyone else in the Follow @vubandsaxes for more relatable room was sitting in complete awe; they knew content! that something of utmost significance had just taken place in front of their very eyes.

[Editor’s note: Check out the tweets below and scattered throughout this article. I’m section leader and I’m still not sure who exactly is responsible for these. -MD]

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Senior Reflections It’s Binn Real By Mark “ask me how much I love Tom Brady” Bowers Senior Trumpet

Wow. This is it. Like, this is really it. Four years after arriving at Villanova University, here I am writing one last article for the Has Binn. I can’t really sum up how this all feels- it almost doesn’t even feel like it’s happening. But, just as all those who came before have done, now I too must take the next step in life, venturing off into the so-called “real world.” And it has to be “real,” doesn’t it? I mean, it isn’t the same as what I’m leaving. How can anyone look at the four years I’ve just lived and call that “real”? Think about it. How many of us walked into this band room on day one and thought that we’d not only get to be a part of the best era of Villanova basketball ever, but get to play this team all the way to a championship parade down Market Street? How many of us had any idea that we’d get to go on some of the best trips of our lives to places like Charleston, Canada, Miami, and New England, spreading the joy of music around the world? And I’m sure most of us came into this band thinking that we’d make some great friends in it, but how many of us actually thought we would get to make all of these incredible memories with the absolute best group of people we could have asked for? Not a single one of us would have believed any of these before coming here. But that’s the beauty of it all. The Villanova Band has given us everything we could have asked for, and then some. It’s been so good, that there’s no way anyone can look at our time here and call it “real.” People look at everything that I’ve been through with this group and tell me that I’m living a dream. And they may be right. There’s no reason anyone should have as much fun being part of a college band as I have, but that’s just what makes it so crazy. This crazy, ridiculous roller coaster of the past few years has been an absolute dream come to life. There’s no way it should be real, but that’s exactly what it has been. It’s been the craziest adventure of our lives, but it’s real. And, just like all realities, it is time for it to come to a close. Closing, however, does not mean the same thing as ending. While it is difficult to say goodbye, I know that this is not the end. My time playing in this band may be over, but my membership is not. Yes, we will all move on, embark on careers,

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and raise families, embracing life in the “real” world. But, I know for a fact that deep in our hearts, we will always cherish the memories, the music, and the friendships we made in the Villanova Band. I can honestly say that joining the Villanova Band was one of the greatest decisions I have made in my life. It has been an absolute honor to play with you all, to lead you all, and, most of all, to get to know you all. You all helped to make my dream of a college experience real, and for that, I will be forever grateful. I wish you all the best of luck in the coming years, and I hope that you can all find the home in the Villanova Band that I found. Keep turning those dreams into realities. There really isn’t anything in the world like being in a band. Make it great. Make it last. And make it real.

Our Beloved Former President: Mark Bowers

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Teach Me How to Say Goodbye By Emerald “*insert photo of Kim K’s ugly crying face here*” McGrath Senior Percussionist

The sun is shining, the cherry blossoms are blooming, professors are holding their classes outside, so that can only mean one thing: the time for denial is quickly expiring. G********n is coming up and I wanted to take the time to bid farewell to one of the most important experiences I’ve had at Villanova: being a part of this band. The last few months have been full of a lot of lasts, and, as of my writing this, I am just a few days away from my last band rehearsals and last band concert. Of all the lasts I have experienced this year, these seem to be hitting the hardest. And this approaching conclusion to my time as a collegiate musician (or, really, band musician in general) has caused me to reflect on my Villanova Band career. Strangely enough, when it came time to put pen to paper (or, rather, fingers to keyboard) I found it difficult to get my thoughts together. I suppose that’s because there has just been so much to write about—so many memories, funny stories, touching anecdotes. As someone who was sober for pretty much every band party, trust me, I’ve seen a lot to remember. How do you put into words every laugh or smile. How do you properly record all the great moments? Is there room for every single piece of advice from Aldo? Or to tell all the great stories included in the band camp packet? And after weeks of struggling to figure out what to say (by the way, thank you to the Has Binn editors for their patience) I finally realized why this piece was so hard to write: it’s because I don’t know how to write it. The truth is, I don’t know how to say goodbye, to come to terms with the fact that my time in the VU Band is up. Being in the band has given me some of my best memories at Villanova. I remember my first band camp fondly. It was whirlwind of people and music, and I was so pleasantly surprised at how welcoming everyone was. I can still vividly remember the first time I heard Rain Chant—it must have been the first day of rehearsal and all of a sudden the room seemed to erupt! The song was fast, people were moving, there was shimmying. And I remember watching it all with a smile, thinking to myself “this is gonna be great”. And it has been great. I’ve found that there’s always something to look forward to with the band: grabbing dinner in St. Mary’s before rehearsals, hanging out

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with friends and watching shenanigans take place on a Friday afternoon at a V-Shirt sale, dancing and singing along to Binn Songs like “Come on Eileen” and “Dark Horse” ™ in that musty basement on a Saturday night. You know, in a weird way, I really do think I’ll miss the smell. And even in the times of duress—long tailgates, busy weekends, playing that one song from the concert lineup you couldn’t stand—there was always something to make things easier: the face on an audience member’s face on Day of Service, a joke someone told, a director calling your favorite flipbook song. The good times certainly outweigh the bad. Whenever we took the field for a halftime show, or outside Connelly for candidate’s day, or the bleachers for a basketball game, there was always that exciting feeling I felt inside of “here is our band!” It didn’t matter how we sounded or how crazy we looked, the feeling of pride of being in this organization never failed. And it’s something that I’m sure I will continue to hold onto for the rest of my life. I can easily say that I have learned as much from this band as I have from my classes. As someone who had never watched a basketball game until I came to Villanova, I learned the rules by playing courtside and asking questions of the upperclassmen. I’ve learned how seventy people can spell CATS and NOVA. I’ve learned the effect that music can have on a room full of veterans and school children. I’ve learned how to drive a cargo van, and how much a cake can mean to a parent away from a child on their birthday for the first time. I’ve learned that if one person needs help, there will always be someone there to give it, and that often there will be many people willing to lend a hand. I’ve learned that travel is good for the soul, but bad for the liver. I’ve learned that roads are not just for driving, but also for rallying. I’ve learned what New York looks like from on top of the Hotel Pennsylvania. I’ve learned the tales of those who have come before us, and have made new tales to be told. I’ve learned what is and isn’t beer, how to become a wise wizard, to be wary of elevated surfaces, and how to give a proper Binnmas gift. I still haven’t learned what a Hoya is, but I do know that it is (insert current time) and Georgetown still sucks. I’ve learned that the band, truly, always wins, and countless other valuable lessons. This band has pushed me outside of my comfort zone time and time again. I’ve experienced new cultures by traveling to exotic places and have had memorable adventures in Quebec, Miami, Maine, Brooklyn, Pittsburgh, and, yes, even Buffalo. The day after Dagobert I made a Facebook status hailing it as one of the best nights of my life, and that still stands. I’ve worn four jerseys proudly as “Sapphire”, “Coffee”, “Roberts”, and “Energizer”. I’ve watched people of different majors and interests and backgrounds come together week after week to make music together, to laugh together, to have fun together. Though our individual stories may be different, all of our stories are connected. I have seen first-hand how this band operates as a family. Now, I’m not going to say that everyone gets along all the time, but I challenge you to find any family that does. We have our differences, but I’ve seen people help each other at their lowest

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moments and offer support when needed. I know I personally have gained so much self-confidence and pure joy from the friendships and love this band has given me. I truly wouldn’t be the person I am today without the Villanova Band. We’ve celebrated together, and gotten through tough losses together. Many of us have even lived together at some point! While I signed up for the music, I stayed because of the people. The people who had me cracking up in the bleachers at a football game while I was dying in my khakis, the people I jammed to “Abba” with during concert rehearsals, the people I made Sparket runs with, the people who were always there with a smile and genuine “how are you?”, the people I shared rooms and laughter with when traveling, the people I danced with at formals, the people who sang “Happy Birthday” to me on my first Binnmas and held my legs while I did my first keg stand. In my first few months away from home freshmen year, the band is what made Nova feel like home. The band has offered comfort, friendship, excitement, and endless reasons to smile. I wish I could recount every great memory from my time in band, but, alas, that would take another four years. And so, now as I sit here in my bed teary and sniffling, what conclusions have I come to? Well, here are a few. The next time I’ll be at Villanova basketball game, I’ll be watching from a distance, and not courtside. The next time I’ll be at Mudbowl, I’ll be reffing, and not playing. The next time I’m with the band while “The Horse” is being played, I’ll be pouring and not hitting my bass drum. I probably won’t even play the bass drum again—at least not for a while. These conclusions do not make my goodbye any easier, and I certainly haven’t learned how to say goodbye while writing this article. But, that’s okay. Because, I still have two rehearsals, a concert, a few weeks of school, and Senior Week to learn. And even then, saying goodbye is not a big deal, because I’m really just saying “see you later”. So, don’t think of this article as a goodbye—instead, think of it as something that is so much more important and so much more needed: a thank you.

Much love always, Emerald

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SENIOR FEATURES

Questions for the Class of 2017: 1. What are your fantasy post-grad plans? 2. What are your real post-grad plans?

3. What’s your favorite song you’ve played over the

past 4 years?

4. What’s your favorite band memory?

Mark Bowers

Trumpet

1. Accepting a job offer to be General

Manager of the Red Sox.

2. I will be working as a sales development

representative at Unitrends in Burlington,

MA.

3. The Stripper, because it is impossible to

play it in a sad moment.

4. Cutting down the nets in Louisville.

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Tom Clemente

Trumpet

1. After becoming a titan of industry

and making billions by age 30, Tom has

retired to philanthropy and travelling the

world.

2. I will be joining Amazon.com as a

Software Engineer in Seattle, WA

3. Pixar Movie Magic

4. FALL TOUR

Johnny DiValerio

Trumpet

1. Become a music composer, make it big time, get rich, and buy a house

on a beach.

2. Traveling to Italy for one month, studying for the CPA exams and then

working as an Audit Associate for Grant Thornton in Philly starting in

the fall.

3. From the flipbook, I would have to say Hey Baby. It's a fun trumpet part,

and the look on people's faces when we play it - you can just tell we

made their day and that's very satisfying to me. In terms of concert

music, I would say either the Pixar Melody or one we are working on

this year - Abba.

4. Besides being at the 2016 National Championship Game (so cliche), I

would say going to Dagobert in Quebec City sophomore year. That was

one of the funniest nights I ever had. If that's still so cliche for this class,

I would say driving the truck

(RIP Scott) as a band

manager. I miss that a lot. It

felt like I was on top of the

world, even if it was for a few

moments.

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Stephanie Duggan

Flute

1. Get paid to binge watch Netflix.

2. Begin pursuing my PhD in chemistry at UC

San Diego.

3. You Can Call Me Al

4. Playing in the bus elevator after we won in

Brooklyn

Grant Edrington

Clarinet

1. Traveling around the country to every MLB

stadium...and catching home runs at each one.

2. I'll be doing search marketing for WordStream in

Boston.

3. That's A Plenty (best clarinet solo to ever exist).

4. Watching One Shining Moment on the Final

Four court in Houston with everyone.

Janelle Gerardi

Trumpet

1. A farmer in West Virginia. Or an

astronaut.

2. Working as a chemist in industry

3. Centerfold

4. Playing for the kids at Sto-Rox

Elementary School in Pittsburgh.

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Devyn Gouvea

Alto Saxophone

1. Becoming the next Minister of Magic

2. Registered Nurse at MedStar Georgetown

University Hospital in Washington, D.C.

on a Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow

Transplant Unit

3. You Can Call Me Al & That's a Plenty

4. Attending the Final Four and National

Championship at NRG Stadium in

Houston, Tx Also Dagobert

Pat Hardy

Baritone Horn

1. Getting the call up from the Penguins

organization to start my career as an NHL

backup goaltender

2. Work as an economic research associate

3. Oh goodness...there are too many to

count. South Pacific and The Sound of Music

are favorites, as are the couple of Holst suites

we’ve done

4. Meeting all of my friends (!!) and

playing at Sto-Rox elementary school over

NCAA’s in Pittsburgh.

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Tori Henck

Flute

1. Teaching kids about the environment

2. Project Manager at Whiting-Turner in Baltimore

3. I Want You Back

4. Playing random songs in the streets of Louisville

and of course the National Championship

Elly Knight

Percussion

1. Assistant basketball coach of the

Wildcats (Heyy Jay)

2. Probably find a job around Philly, pay

off student loans (Heyy Jay

3. On trombone: All of the Lights

On drumset: Confident

4. There’s too many to list! The National

Championship, all the traveling, band camp,

rehearsals but I especially loved having kids … come up and letting them play the drums and

seeing their faces light up!

Emerald McGrath

Percussion

1. Living in LA writing the next great TV show.

2. Most likely interning somewhere in the TV

production field...LA may not be so far off

3. Pep band: Shut up and Dance. Concert band: Frozen.

4. This was really hard and I'm indecisive, so here is a

top 3: 1) Being elected VP of Fundraising 2) Going to

Dagobert during Fall Tour Canada and 3) my 18th

birthday: it took place on Binnmas and when I walked

into the Binn everyone sang me happy birthday.

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Andrew McNamara

Clarinet

1. My fantasy post-grad plans are to eat, sleep, play

tennis, go to the beach, repeat.

2. My real post-grad plans are to find a job in either

pharmaceuticals or investment management.

3. My favorite band song was South Pacific.

4. My favorite band memory was going to the 2017

Big East Tournament.

Alanna Reitz

Flute

1. Sitting on a sunny beach somewhere drinking

frozen margaritas

2. Chemical engineering jobs don't exist (tbd)

3. South Pacific

4. Every senior week!

Jimmy Saile

Trombone

1. Full-time Lyft driver

2. Transfer Pricing at EY Philadelphia

3. Slaughter on Tenth Avenue

4. Fall Tour Québec

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Katie Silkman

Trumpet

1. I would love to travel and spend a month in Ireland.

2. I'll be staying in the Ardmore area and

will be a Registered Nurse at Lankenau

Medical Center. But first I'll be spending

the summer at home while I study for

the NCLEX!

3. Little Bitty Pretty One has been my

favorite song since we played it at

freshman year band camp!

4. My favorite band memory was the

entirety of my freshman year band

camp. Meeting everyone, getting my

flipbook, going to the toga party,

experiencing my first turf rehearsal,

bonding with the other freshmen, and getting to know Aldo and George.

It was the best few days of my life and I will always remember the pure

happiness I felt walking into the band room each day.

Grace Stewart

Trombone

1. Minnesota tourism promoter

2. I'm hoping to do a year of service

and eventually go on to law school

3. Paragon duh

4. When we played Kansas last year

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Annie Tanella

Clarinet

1. I will be basking in the fame and glory of

having my own daytime cooking show on

the Food Network.

2. I will be basking in the fame and glory of

teaching mathematics to children

somewhere near my hometown in New

Jersey (exactly where is TBD ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )

3. Do you remember the 21st night of

September?

4. There are so many! But one of my top

moments was the greatest Fall Tour gig of

all time, when we performed for the

elementary school students in Miami and

they acted like we were rock stars (since

we are).

Emily Tenuta

Percussion

1. My fantasy post-grad plans are to be a

plus-size model and ethics professor.

2. My real post-grad plans are to work as

research assistant in the field of international

law and security in DC.

3. Confident and Shenandoah

4. Planning Fall Tour but more specifically,

the gigs that we had the opportunity to

perform for were such an incredible blessing

and reward over the past four years.

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NOT INCLUDED BUT WE FOUND

FUNNY PICS OF THEM ANYWAY...

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